During World War I, the Long Island Historical Society (now Brooklyn Historical Society) transformed the 600-seat auditorium on the first floor of its Brooklyn Heights building into a Red Cross headquarters and office. The photo of the week depicts Red Cross activities in the BHS office location, around 1917. According to their website, the Red Cross provided aid in the form of donations, medical supplies, garments and additional items in support of American and Allied soldiers. The Red Cross saw remarkable growth during World War I. In 1915 the organization had 16,708 members; by 1918, their rolls had swelled to over 20 million!
If you’re interested in additional information on the Red Cross in Brooklyn, check out the American Red Cross, Brooklyn Chapter collection available by appointment at the Othmer Library. If you’re interested in World War I research, take a look at the newly processed S. Spafford Ackerly papers collection and the Edward B. Watson collection of World War I and World War II illustrations and cartoons collection.
Interested in seeing more photos from BHS’s collection? Visit our online image gallery, which includes a selection of our images. Interested in seeing even more historic Brooklyn images? Visit our Brooklyn Visual Heritage website here. To search BHS’s entire collection of images, archives, maps, and special collections visit BHS’s Othmer Library Wed-Sat, 1:00-5:00 p.m. library@brooklynhistory.org
This blog post reflects the opinions of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of Brooklyn Public Library.
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